Part 3

Learn the value of each gem type, Moneybags' gem requirements for progression, and master Spyro, Sheila, and Sgt. Byrd's controls in Spyro: Year of the Dragon.

In Spyro: Year of the Dragon, gems come in five different colors, each with a varying value and rarity:

• Red Gems: Worth 1 gem. Found abundantly throughout the game.
• Green Gems: Worth 2 gems. Twice as rare as red gems.
• Purple Gems: Worth 5 gems. Found in some baskets and locked chests.
• Yellow Gems: Worth 10 gems. Twice as rare as purple gems.
• Magenta Gems: Worth 25 gems. Very rare, found only 1-3 times per world (except Super Bonus).

Moneybags returns in Spyro: Year of the Dragon, requiring increasing amounts of gems to unlock new areas or progress:

• Sunrise Spring Home: 300 gems to release Shelia.
• Cloud Spires: 200 gems to activate the Bellows.
• Molten Crater: 300 gems to unlock the Thief Challenge.
• Midday Garden Home: 600 gems to release Sgt. Byrd.
• Icy Peak: 500 gems to unlock Nancy's Challenge.
• Spooky Swamp: 500 gems to progress through the door.
• Evening Lake Home: 1,000 gems to release Bently.
• Frozen Altars: 800 gems to unlock the Ice Hockey Challenge.
• Charmed Ridge: 600 gems to get the steps working.
• Midnight Mountain Home: 1,300 gems to release Agent 9, and 0 gems to retrieve all gems from Moneybags.
• Crystal Islands: 1,000 gems to extend the bridge.
• Desert Ruins: 800 gems to progress through the door.

You can bypass paying Moneybags in Crystal Islands and Desert Ruins by defeating the Sorceress (requiring 100 eggs) and then chasing the gems from him. The Super Bonus Round requires 149 eggs and 15,000 gems. Portals within the Super Bonus Round require 16,000, 17,000, 18,500, and 20,000 gems to unlock.

Skill Points are optional challenges in the game, with 20 available. They do not count towards the game's percentage but offer rewards upon completion. Earning 10 Skill Points while defeating the Sorceress unlocks a 5-page atlas addition about the Forgotten Worlds. Earning all 20 unlocks another 5 pages for the epilogue.

Controls Overview:

Key:

• X = Cross Button
• T = Triangle Button
• O = Circle Button
• [] = Square Button
• L Stick = Left Analog Stick
• R Stick = Right Analog Stick
• START = Start Button
• SELECT = Select Button
• L1 = L1 Button
• R1 = R1 Button
• L2 = L2 Button
• R2 = R2 Button
• ^ Directional Button = Up Directional Button
• v Directional Button = Down Directional Button
• < Directional Button = Left Directional Button
• > Directional Button = Right Directional Button

Spyro's Controls:

• Movement: L Stick
• Camera Control: L1/R1 (point behind Spyro), L2 (rotate left), R2 (rotate right)
• Jump: X
• Glide: X + X
• Glide and Hover: X + X + T
• Flame Attack: O
• Spit Projectile: O (with projectile in mouth)
• Spyro Vision: Hold down T
• Charge: Hold down [] + L Stick
• Pause/Resume: START
• Open Atlas: SELECT
• Turn on the Spot: L1 + L Stick (left), R1 + L Stick (right)
• Directional Movement: ^ (forward), v (180 degrees), < (90 degrees left), > (90 degrees right)
• Sparx Gem Pointer: L1 + R1 + L2 + R2 (once earned)
• Headbash: X + T
• Underwater Charge: Hold Down [] Underwater
• Underwater Paddle: Hold Down X Underwater
• Slow Descent (while gliding): v
• Climbing Ladders: Press X to jump on, then ^ or v to climb/descend.

Skateboarding Controls:

• Jump: X
• Flame: O
• Spin Left (on half pipe): <
• Spin Right (on half pipe): >
• Flip Forwards: X + T + ^
• Flip Backwards: X + T + v

Sheila's Controls:

• Movement: L Stick
• Jump: X
• Air Hop: X + X
• Double Jump: X + X (as soon as you hit the ground)
• Kick Attack: O or []
• Sheila Vision: Hold Down T
• Pause/Resume: START
• Open Atlas: SELECT
• Camera Control: L1/R1 (point behind Sheila), L2 (rotate left), R2 (rotate right)
• Turn on the Spot: L1 + L Stick (left), R1 + L Stick (right)
• Directional Movement: ^ (forward), v (180 degrees), < (90 degrees left), > (90 degrees right)
• Sparx Gem Pointer: L1 + R1 + L2 + R2 (once earned)
• Stomp Attack: X + T